Panic Priest : Psychogoria

“death, sex, and doomed romance”. These are three main themes that run through the evocative, dark wave music made by Jack Armondo, aka Panic Priest. His rich tenor cuts through the mix of guitars, drums, and synths like a hot blade through flesh. There’s a pop eloquence in his vocals that bring the otherwise Gothic […]

“You’re dressed as what?”

It’s October 31st, 2022. All Hallow’s Eve, the day where ghosts, goblins, and ghouls rise from the netherworld to steal souls, cook kids in in cauldrons, and give you lip when you don’t give them a full size candy bar(Fun Size? What’s so fun about it?) Yes, it’s Halloween. The one time of the year […]

Ogre : Cybercism

Nobody does 80s dystopian synth music quite like Robin Ogden, aka Ogre. The British electronic composer has been making albums as Ogre for close to a decade and each time out he tweaks and hones the sound to a fine, chromed-out sheen. Touches of horror scores, 80s video game vibes, moody ambient, and even hard […]

Kids Are Dating, Hermit Culture, Other Land Mines

It’s a weird feeling having all your kids dating. It’s one of the big transitions in the parent/child dynamic. All my children are in it now, with my youngest having started to date someone at school. I do feel lucky in that none of them started dating until they were either out of school or […]

Make Time For Rock and Roll

I think nearly everyday of my life since I was about 12, the idea of playing guitar has popped in my head. Maybe not on my wedding day, or the day my kids were born, or at funerals, but most other days. Ever since being a 3, 4 year-old and hearing Zeppelin, Aerosmith, The Doors, […]

Vacation Truths, Ghosts Of Dog Dander’s Past, and Rain Drops Keep Falling On My G#@!& Head

October 19th, 2022 : 1:15pm As I sit at the dining room table in the lovely Air BnB my wife booked for us months ago, I realize I’ve gone full curmudgeon. Sonos sound system is playing Oneohtrix Point Never throughout the house, giant ribeye steaks sizzle on the grill out in the Michigan sunlight, and […]

Makaya McCraven : In These Times

Makaya McCraven is one of the most important musicians/composers working today. For sure in the world of modern jazz, but for modern music itself. The Chicago-based drummer/studio wizard has blended the worlds of jazz, soul, and hip hop and on his records makes music that feels very much grounded in the classic 60s/70s world of […]

Tai Chi Tommy : Nightmares At The Sad Souls Cafe

So are you the type that loves fall, the light fading earlier and earlier in the evening, and of course Halloween season? You dig the spooks, cooks, eerie voices emanating from nowhere in-particular, and just the general reason for the season? But you’re tired of the usual musical suspects when it comes to Halloween tunes? […]

Fall Break

The day has arrived. We’ve been looking forward to this week since we booked the Air BnB months ago. Vacation week is here and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It was a year ago that I found out the plant I work in would be closed for good by July 2024. The place I’d worked […]

Burial Party : Burial Party

Sometimes(or maybe most of the time) you want music that isn’t hidden under studio tricks, far out concepts, or hard to crack veneers. There’s something very primal about music that is raw, in-your-face, and visceral. Even a lot of hardcore and post-hardcore bands fall victim to art rock shenanigans and they become more of a […]

Complex Distractions